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Burton Police Chief John Benthall returns from state Attorney General conference with terrorism-prevention advice from FBI, Israeli bomb squad: 'It's not if it happens again, it's when it happens again'

BURTON, Michigan -- It's been nearly seven years since 9/11, when terrorism tore at America's own shores.

While Michigan residents have become distracted by economic concerns, they should still take the threat of another terrorist attack seriously, said Burton Police Chief John Benthall.

Benthall recently returned from a two-day Lansing workshop organized by Michigan's Attorney General Mike Cox for police officials statewide.

"It's not if it happens again, it's when it happens again," said Benthall, who said being a border state, Michigan needs to be especially vigilant. "(Terrorist attempts are) going to happen, we just don't know when."

The workshop drew high-ranking speakers, including members of the Israeli National Police bomb squad, the retired Tel Aviv Police commander, former FBI Assistant Director Steven Pomerantz and the retired senior officer of the Mossad, a Middle East agency similar to the Central Intelligence Agency.

No recorders were allowed at the conference; no handouts were given.

While details of the workshop were kept confidential, Benthall brought home new insight on terrorist perspectives.

An indoctrination clip showed a mother setting down her preschool-age daughter to strap on explosives for a simulated suicide bombing, inspiring the daughter to follow in her mother's footsteps, said Benthall.

"They're raising children from 4 or 5 or 6 years old to grow up wanting to be suicide bombers," he said. "As a parent and grandparent I don't understand how they can do this with their own children."

It's a culture that emphasizes death and romances followers with promises of after-life rewards, a mindset that Americans find difficult to combat, Benthall said.

Speakers emphasized the increase of "home-grown terrorists," those who grew up under terrorists beliefs while being raised in countries outside of the Middle East, especially France and England.

"Actually all the money is going to terrorist organizations," said Benthall.

A director of a large Jerusalem mall discussed safety policies, both in licensing vendors and securing shoppers.

"The process of getting into a mall over there is extremely rigorous," said Benthall. "Shoppers have to go through two different checkpoints. People call the mall to make sure security procedures are in place and if not, they won't go to the mall."

It's become an expected routine in Jerusalem but one Benthall doubts American shoppers would embrace.

"They live with this every single day," he said. "Listening to them talk about it, I don't know how they put up with it."

For Burton, it drives home the point that citizens should keep their eyes and ears open, said the chief.

"We have a tendency to forget what we went through (after 9/11) but we need to be vigilant," said Benthall.

"If (terrorists) do get to Burton we would like to recognize them for what they are."